Machine for operating upon lasts



Dec. 12, 1933. l. c. BUCKMINSTER MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON LASTS Filed Dec.

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MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON LASTS Filed Deo. l0, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Dec. 12, 1933. c. BUCKMINSTER 1,938,589

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MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON LASTS Filed Dec. l0, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Dec. l2, 1933 lcourse .STATES PATENT Yorrlcr:

1,938,689 MACHINE Foa OPERATING UPON LAsTs Ira C. Buckm'inster, Beverly, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Paterson, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 1o, `1930. serial No. 501,345

11 claims. (c1. 14A-s1)k Y extending from thebottom face of a last and for inserting metallic plugs or bushing blanks in the :respective holes. f

' "As more fully explained in Letters Patent No.

1,674,060, Pym, granted June 8, 1928, for Method 1 0 and Vmeans for positioning lasts and'their shoe materials, and also in Letters Patent No. 1,723,- 301, Pym, granted August 6, 1929, for Machine for operating upon lasts, a last having such positioning holes 'in its bottom plays an important part inthe practice of a method of lasting the toes of shoes according to which the last and the shoe materials to ce shaped thereover are Vpositioned in predetermined relation Ato the Wipers and other operating instrumentalities of a lasting r machine without thelneed of any high degree of Y in the bottom of the Wooden last. l

The particular machine disclosed in the said Patent No. 1,723Ql is operated to a considerable extent through handles and treadles actuated by Vthe'machine operator and the plugs are supplied 30 by hand to the tools which insert them into the last.

An important object oi the present invention is to provide a machine which will be more nearly completely automatic than is the said prior `machine.

Accordingly, Ywith this and other objects in View, the preferred embodiment of the invention, herein illustrated, comprises means for position- `ing a last and clamping it in predetermined posiif 10 tion in combination with one or more-preferably three-drills, power means for rotating the drills and for moving them-axially to form holes in the last, plug-inserting tools and power means for operating them to force a plug into each drilled I 43 hole and automatic means for presenting said drills and said tools alternately in operative relation to the hot-tom of the last at predetermined times in the cycle of the machine. Preferably, also, the plugs are delivered automatically to the @0 inserting tools by novel plug-asserting, feeding J5 which they are transferred to the inserting tools.

The combination of this mechanism, generically,

Vwith other elements in a complete machine for operating on lasts is claimed herein but the said mechanism, per se, constitutes the subject-matter of a divisional application Serial No. 679,409, filed July 7, 1933.

Another important feature of the illustrated machine comprises a single cam vhaving two cam grooves arranged for alternative, operative engagement with two sets of connecting devices by which the tools, e. g. the drill or drills and the `plug-inserting tool or tools, are operated. Preferably, the cam is axially stationary and the tools are mounted in a carriage which is movable in a line parallel to the axis of the cam. 7

However, the invention in these, as well asin other, aspects is not limited to embodiment `in machines of the particular type herein illustrated,

by Way of example, or in machines for performing the specic operations for which the illustrated machine has been especially designed. v Furthermore, the invention comprises also `various other combinations and arrangements of parts, as well'as particular features of construction, which will now be described-in detail in con- SQ nection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention. Y

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the upper part 85 ofthe machine; Y

Fig. 2 is a front elevation with certain parts shown as broken away and certain parts, including a last, shown in section; v

Fig. 3 is a detail view on a larger scale of certain of the drill supporting and driving parts shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation;

Fig. 5 is a plan View; a

Fig. 6 is a View in perspective of part-of the 9 5 mechanism for operating the tools;

Fig. '7 is a section, approximately on the line VII-VII, of a part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an exploded view in perspective of parts of the plug agitating and feeding devices;

Fig. 9 isa sectional elevation of the same devices;

Fig. 10 is a plan view on a larger scale of the lower ends of the raceways;

Fig. 11 is a detail view on a still larger scale of one of the plug transferring devices;

Fig. 12 is a transverse section of a last showing two of the metallic plugs in position but at different stages in the manufacture of the last;

Fig. 13 is an exploded View in perspective of one of the side gage clamping mechanisms, and

Fig. 14 is a side elevation, from the side of the machine opposite to that represented in Fig. 4, showing a lost-motion connection in the mechanism for operating the tools.

As disclosed in the prior Patent No. 1,723,301 above mentioned, the holes were drilled in the metallic plugs to form bushings before the latter were inserted in the last and the present machine could be used to insert such bushings but, as hereinafter described, solid metallic plugs are inserted in the holes in the last and thereafter the holes are drilled in the plugs.

As indicated in Fig. 5 and at the right in-Fig. 12, the illustrated machine drills three holes H to a predetermined depth in the bottom of the last L and then the solid or undrilled metallic plugs P are forced home into the holes. As illustrated at the left in Fig. 12, the last L, if it is to beused for McKay shoes, has thereafter secured to its bottom a metallic clenching plate M and then holes H and H are drilled through this plate and to a predetermined depth in the plugs P. This drilling of the holes H and H may be accomplished in any desired mannerfor example, by the use of a machine of the same general character as the machine of said prior Patent No. 1,723,301.

The illustrated machine includes a main frame 10 to the top of which is bolted a table 12 which carries various parts including the last positioning and clamping devices. These latter devices are generally similar to, but different in some respects from, those disclosed in said prior Patent No. 1,723,301. They include a toe gage 14 (Fig. 5) secured to the table 12 and provided not only with a horizontal surface 16 to engage the bottom of the last closely adjacent to the toe butv also with a slightly inclined but generally vertical surface 18 to engage theapproximately vertical toe end of the last. Cov-operating with this toe gage are two pairs of side gages in the form of levers, the two gages of eachpair being interconnected to move simultaneously toward or from the longitudinal axis of the last. One pair of gages 20 pivoted at 22 engage the sides of the last near its toe end, whereas the other pair 24 pivoted at 26 engage the sides of the last at substantial and approximately equal distances from the toe gage and also have extensions providing horizontal surfaces 27 to engage the bottom of the last as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. These side gages are normally spring pressed inwardly to predetermined positions where their ends are at distances apart slightly less than the corresponding widths of the last to be operated upon, so that as the last is pushed downwardly and inwardly into engagement with the toe gage it is automatically brought by the side gages into a predetermined position angularly and transversely. For thus moving the two gases 20, each is provided with a lateral extension 28 carrying a roll 30 acted upon by a cam surface or wedge 32 forming a part of a slide 34. A tension spring 36 connecting this slide 34with a pin projecting from the table 12 continually tends to force the last engaging ends of gages 20 toward each other. However, the extent of this movement or the slide and gages is limited by a bell crank lever 38 (Fig. 2) one arm of which engages the slide and the other arm of Ywhich engages the lower endy mechanism including rearward extensionsr 'i6 (Fig. 5). rolls 48, wedge surfaces 50 on a slide 52, tension spring 54 (Fig. 4), bell crank lever 56 and adjusting screw 58.

Thus, by preliminary adjustment of the two screws 40 and 58, the innermost positions of the ends of each pair of side gages 20, 24 will preferably be so adjusted that the ends of each pair will be less than the width of the last L at the corresponding distance from the toe end and so that when the last is inserted between them it will be engaged by all four of the side gages before its toe end reaches the surface 18 of the toe gage 14. In so positioning the last, the operator insures that all four side gages shall contact with the opposite sides of the last, thus centralizing the last and locating it in a predetermined position angularly, longitudinally and laterally in the general plane of the bottom of the last. At the same time, the operator also presses the bottom of the last downwardly and rmly against the three gaging surfaces so as to predetermine the position of the last accurately in all planes normal to the bottom of the last.

To prevent any displacement of the last from this predetermined position while it is being clamped and while it is being operated upon, mechanism is provided for clamping or locking the slides 34, 52 and thereby locking the movable side gages against outward movement. This mechanism may be of the character disclosed particularly in Figs. 8 and 9 of said prior Patent No. 1,723,301. However, in order to secure still more effective clamping of the gages, the clamping mechanism employed in the illustrative machine includes for each slide two sets of spring plates, one set being xed to the slide and the other set being mounted on a stationary part of the machine, the plates for slide 34 being indicated at 60 (Fig. 2) and those for slide 52 at 62 (Fig. 4). The alternate plates are normally just out of contact so that the slides and, therefore, the gages connected thereto may move freely but, when pressure is exerted vertically, adjacent plates are brought into firm frictional contact so that the slides and gages are securely locked. The means for exerting such vertical pressure will be further described below.

Two members are provided for engaging th upper surface of the last and for clamping the last, through suitable operating mechanism. in the position determined by the gages already described. One of these members is a block 68 (Fig. 2) having a stab point 70 adapted to penetrate the upper surface of the toe portion of the last. This block is mounted at the lower end of a threaded rod 72 which is secured against rotation but is movable axially in a bracket 74 bolted to the table 12 of the machine. This rod is moved axially by mechanism similar to that shown in said prior Patent No. 1,723,301 including two bevel gears 76, 78, a shaft 80, a pinion 82 (Figs. 1 and 4) meshing with a rack 84 to the lower end of which is pivotally secured a rod 86 which may be raised to clamp the last by a treadle 88 pivoted to its lower1 end. The rod 86 may be depressed to unclamp the last by a trea- -dle 90 connected by a link 92 to a bell crank lever 94 also pivoted to the rod 86. Furthermore, the upward movement or rod 86 is effective through a spring 96 (Fig. 2), a lever 98 (Fig. 4) and plates 62 to clamp one pair of side gages 24 and similarly through a parallel and connected rod 100, a spring 102 (Fig. 2), a lever 104 and plates 60 to clamp the other pair of side gages 20 as above described. Details of the clamping lmim Kmechanism for plates .62 iside shown particularly Tin "13. A lsecond member ifor clamping #the liant Yis a b1ock=112 (Figs. i1 and 2)'vhidh`h limilii'md Vof the last 'and'whmhs'eov i zontally forwardly 1andibaekwuldly fin sirpia'otying I'block i1l4, -a fpm-andesltnfbetween them limiting such 1*14 lis -secured at 'thelower' fend' :015m slidable rod 116 which Unmounted fontn 74, its rotation lbeing prevented by xa ley. 1A-wil spring 11'8 acts normally'fto rod to its llower face to engage kthe fconeforur'p'pr Simcoe;

Ahighest position. One lsitlefu'f the with ratchet teeth I201t1'llg. t) innmillly img'aer' bya pawl2122 forming 'apartMfntkll-tersnkte ver '124 and .normally pressed intoA with zthe teeth .120 iby a end .of fthe .lever ris .provided with' :in

Ystopscrevl 128.

yAfter the last Vhas been -68 -as Y above described, the fopenm irod' .116 .with one =hand until the 'lower .flal'of flilook' 112 lcomes into :et 'with' thea-mm im last .and `.the vvrod .21116 1isthen in :that .pitinn fby the .pawl '122. 'Howevenaincegncame ofloat motion rdue lto the space iteeth .120,13116 block 112 frise Slightly .1201111318 last, the operator may then' slide this :bloot :inr-

'ward with 'relation to :its supporting 144 and .again bring =the-inollneil lower 'mf 112 into firm clamping engasementvth the When'the :treadle :onepteaaed thefrod "12 and the block Alattine upper end 10i fthe. :engages the lower endfo!r `1116 .(Eig. j)

land thereby releases fpawl 122 so -1.2')1exten.ding `from the fbottorn 1L :at a predetermined angle, ,i fe. fmtentialltm .right angle, to the general minne 10! @e Aof webct-rompt the last .and menitmeepiggfr are forced to the bottoms .ef

-Preferably these -:plugs A,are tofv ameter than :the fholes so hat tively retained :in the lestfhvhiclon .have -beenriorced4 into the holes As will Abe ffurther'evmlined alim. wie

c and the plug-inserting tools *a carriage uwhich Ais automaticam!V :transversely of the rhast *to bring :the tools alternately into operating imsiin clamped. The fdrill 1.3.61 supported fmoved axially and :guided zby :6535s. 27 3 'and 6) whichy l'except 'es out, may be similar to iin'fsaid prior Letters Patent No. 1,723,301,

ing removably secured to a .short VM0. To provide forindenereem sainement@ each drill relative to its support to vary the depth of, Vthe'hole fin ith: dust,

each shaft 140 is providedwith 431161111195, 1342,y

l' in' the block i148 and' E whichimaylieiengagedzby alhand wrench. Each M'Moisfconnected at its lower end y through joints and an extensible' member 156 fleanother vertlcalshaft 158 journaled in :a cross- 160, apinion v162 .being secured to yeach shaft i158. fGrosshead "160 Aisintegral with crosshead 148 or rigidlyfconnectedthereto by one 4or more :as'indicated .at ,'1'63 (Fig. 3). The three pinions 5162 .are :all driven .by a single aver- -tloally Stationary .gear 164 having a lrelatively 'wide face itc provide Afor .the proper driving .of 'he'rpinlons 1'62 during :their vertical .movement with the drills. The gear 164 is :mounted-on a 'vertical' shaft 165 carrying a y'spiral gear 166 :meshingfwithaisimilar spiralgear 16.7 pinnedto `'aIhoiviaorita.l.shaft 168 r(also 4) splined withniafeleevefIwhich is :held against axial movement iandtow'hich .is xed a sprocket 170 driven byiafsprocket .chain 172 (also Fig. 4) from a fsprocket wheel 174 `fixed to the rotor vshaft 17.6 :offen eleotricvmotorl78 adjustably -bolted to the frame of the machine. '"The:horizontally sslidable carriage,v previously -tto', in which the drills .are .'mountedis :particularly in Figs. 'l and 6, 'being destgnedfl. This .carriage has horizontal bearing" .surfaces -192 .sliding on ways or4 tracks 194 1a .part `of the frame fof the machine. .Stationary guide bushings A`196 (Eig. f2) are pro- 'yiediin ia :removable .plate 198 forming a part of the 'table 12. The drills are laterally sup- ;polted .aand guided during their vertical .moveuneritbythreeguide bushings 200 (Fig. 6) which Vaxntnved yieldingly vertically into bushings 196 bloughtclose to the bottom of the last. 'time mechanism for operating the drills and these .movable 'bushings will .now be described. nie'bushings are screwed into .a removable plate .302 fFig.z6)".in turn removably secured by aflockibultim inacrssheadi204 which is slidable 5in :ways .in :the carriage 190. Pivoted .#1206 .to lugs extending laterally from "either side of the crosshead 160 above mentioned are pivotally'connected to the forward arms 211) 'df a lever fulcrumed on a rock shaft 212. .another .arm '21:4 yof this lever :210 is adjustably to :another lever v2-16 also fulcrumed sha'ft'i212. VIn order to adjust prelimina- -db the upper limit'of .movement of the crosshead 380 `and idf ithe drills carried thereby, and thus itoleonipensate'for wear of the drills,l the relation biiween'gthe V'arm .21"4 and thelever 216 may be :changed by means lof'a threaded rod 218 (al'so Fig. 'Il'havingV twoW enlargements 219, '220 on the ates'peotive sidesof a kblock 221 rotatable in lever mfandhavinglaihand knob 222. Thisrod'218 is into another-block 223 rotatable in thear'mzlii vand is freely rotatable in the block i-zzlf'lkfter :arm 21'4 has been adjusted by the `melmtr ito :the .desired distance from 1ever'2l6, the two are clamped in that relation by a clamp- `ing-briltilbi; Lever 216 carries a cam ro11"225 ximninglin Varcaxngro'ove 226 of a'cam 227 fixed tesa 'shaft 4228l This shaft is driven from vthe motor 'i178 through'gearing including a train 'of 'reduction gears indicated as a group at 230 (Figs. 2 .and i5) :from a shaft'232 on which is loosely )mounted a's'procket wheel 234 (Fig. 4) driven -bya' sprocket chain 236 from a sprocket wheel fixed tofthe rotor shaftV 176 of Vthe motor 178. V{llo'fr'gorinect the sprocket Wheel 234 operatively with the shaft 232 Vand to release it therefrom, the `-machine 'includes a double cone friction yclutch and brakeof known typev indicated at"2`4 4 y6)'v the clutch rbeing 'thrown into operation by a heavy coiled spring 246 when released bya hand lever 248 (also Fig. 4) through suitable connections including rod 250, bell cranklever 252 and forked lever 254. The clutchisthrown out of operation and the hand lever 248 is reset automatically at the end of eachcycleof opera-f tions in a well-known manner. f

An exhaust pipe for withdrawing from Vthe machine the chips produced by the drills is indicated at 256 while 258 and 2594 (Fig. 2) re:- spectively, indicate rheostat and switch boxes and appropriate electrical connections for controlling the motor 178. v As will be further explained below, the car,- riage 190, the drills and the plug-insertingtools 138 are each given one complete torand-frofref ciprocation during each cycle of the machine but,

in order that the same cam l226 mayV bepused for vertically reciprocating both thev drills and the said tools at different times, the cam makes two complete rotations during eachcycle of the machine. `Y 'f'.

The guide bushings 200 and the cross head1204 are supported by the carriage 190 through coiled.

springs 260 (Fig. 2)I and are so operated from cam 227 that as the crosshead 160 and drills are raised the guide bushings 200 arealso raised into stationary bushings 196, these bushings 2 00 corning to rest just below the bottom of thelast, while the drills continue upward. To'secure this result, a lost motion .connection is provided between crosshead 204 and cam 227 comprisingza pin 262 (Figs. 4 and 14) on'each side of the crosshead 204 on which is supported a hook 264 having a slot 266 in which is movable a ypin 268 at the forward end of a lever 270 pivoted on a rock shaft 272 on the carriage 190. A link 274 yoperatively connects this lever to a forward .ex-

ries a cam roll 284 (Fig..2) engaging a cam groove 286 in a cam 288 loose on shaft 228., ECam 288 is driven half as fast as shaft 228 bytgearin'g (Fig. 4) comprising an internal gear 289,-id1er.`

gear 290 and pinion 291 fixed to shaft 228'.:

An adjustable spring buffer or stop 292r (Figs.

'1 and 5) may be provided to engage the carriage at or just before the end of its reciprocation toward the left and thus ensure the correct alignment of the plug-inserting tools 138 with the stationary bushings 196, thus compensating for lost motion after wear of parts. v

Each of the plug-inserting tools 138 has-secured to it a sleeve 294 (Fig. 2) and-its lowerend extends through a crosshead 296` movableslvertically in bearings in the carriage I190.A A'heavy coiled spring 298 interposed between the' crosshead and the lower end 'ofeach sleeve 294'permits the yielding of the tool 138 with respect to the crosshead 296, when the plugs P yare bottomed in the holes H as explained abovein connection with Fig. 12. Surrounding each, `tool 138 is a relatively movable guide bushing 300 acted upon at its lower end by a spring 302 which tends to move the bushing to its highest position where it extends above the tool 138gbut which permits the toolto move further upward to complete the insertion ofthe plug -P-after the upper end of the bushing 300 has passed throughfits guideway196 and come into engage'- ment 'with the; bottom of the last. Crosshead 296::is reciprocated-v vertically by two links 304 pivoted.; thereto and to the forward ends of two arms 306 ofabell crank lever.- loosely fulcrumed onrshaft 212..; Another Varm 308 of this lever (also. Fig.- -6),. carries at--fits lower end a cam roll 3,111fconstiuietedV and;v arranged to run in a cam .groovet3l21at1 the rear side, as shown in Fig. 6,' ofthe-cam' 227. It will. be understood that 'theicamwrollsm225 'and,310 are in engagement gwith-ttheirrespective grooves in rthe cam 227 for `only. afportion 'of each cycle of operation and .that when` the carriage 190 is at 'the limit of itsh-reeiproeation and the drills are .in alignment with the said bushings 196, the cam roll 225 is within the groove 226, as shown in Fig. 6, and -.that when the carriage moves to the other limit fofts reciproc'ation, the cam roll 225 moves laterally-out of its groove 226 and just before the 'plugiinsertingI tools' 138-come into such alignvment the cam roll 310"'wi1lenter its groove 312 inthe cam'227f'- Hence, as above stated, the cam 22'7r makes two completef'rotations for each cycle of the' machine. `Suitable springs and stops are provided to insure that cam rolls 225 and 310, notwithstandingV wear .or lost motion between parts, will 'be held inalignment with their relspectiv'e 'grooves 226 and 312.

They-,mechanism for delivering plugs P auto- -maticallylto the'tools 138 will now be described. :A mass :of the'plugs may be dumped into the open't'op hopper' 320 (Figs. 1, 5, 8 and 9) supported `with-its"bottom 322 at an inclination yto the'horizontal. To facilitate the passage of the plugs through the'three exit'ports 324 and between "vertical guide anges 326 of the hopper, two ribs or wires 328, 330 are fixed on its bottom and two partitions 332, 334 are arranged in the lower corners and astationary bar 336 has an end 337`extending downwardly not quite tothe -tops of the ribs into position to engage the plugs. -The ports 324 are of such shape that the plugs P can pass through them only when they are upright,-i; e.'when their frusto corneal ends are uppermost,"a s s hown in Figs. 10 and 11. The *particularfillustrated' arrangement of the ribs 332," 334 ande'nd/'337 of bar 336 has been found :byexperiment to bevery effective for arranging thev plugs in such upright position and for ensurthrough l' '-th'f ports.

Tlieliop'p'er 320 is supported directly on a frame or open'boxl'338KFig. 8) but preferably adjusting "means, siicha's'screws34, one of which is shown 'in Fig. 219i is'pr'ovided for varying the height of the -frontend of the'hopper, thus varying the vangle `of the inclination of its bottom 322. The hopper 'is securedfto the frame 338 in any suitable -m'aner'asby screws,'s uch as 342.y The frame 338 -isi*supported`l on and slidablev over a fiat surface 354.-; The.. frame'f338-is provided also with bearing'surfaces 356 along' which may slide a block I 358dhavingV ar'hole 360.(Fi'g. 9) therein fitting another crank pin 361 on a disk 362 forminga part of a second vertical shaft 364. The drawings show various devices such as,- boss 366 and pipe 368; (Fig. 8) having passages for conducting oil to parts tobe lubricated. Therblock` 358 tting between surfaces 356 is provided. to' ensure a smooth;v and quiet operation of the hopperagitating mechanism andto make it unnecessary, in manufacturing the parts, to have the two crank pins 348, 360 a precise distance apart. The two vertical shafts 354, 364 carry spur gears 370, 372, respectively, between which' is an intermediate gear 374 (Fig. 9). The shaft 354 to which thev gear 370I is secured carries near its lower end (Fig. 2) a spiral gear 376 which is driven by a similar gear 377 on the shaft 232.v

The plugs P which pass` through thev portsl 324 and between flanges 326 entery three raceways formed in part by av bottom plate 378; (Figs. 8 and 9) the upper end of whichk bears at. its upper side against the under side of the bottomr 322 of the'hopper and is supported by an adjustable'post 380 which is secured by a set screw 382 in adjusted position in the bracket 346, the lower end of ther plate 3781 resting upon the table 12. Inasmuch as this plate 378 is stationary while the hopper 320y moves; a flexible connection is provided between the two including a coiled spring 384 at each side of each port324, one end of each spring being connected to the hopper and the other to the plate close to; the entrance to one ofthree slots 386 which provide raceways to guide the plugs to the table 12 upon which, at the exit end of these slots, arestops in the form of ribs 388 which position theclowermost of the plugs, coming from the three slots, on the table in the relation shown particularly in Fig. 10.

For controlling automatically the delivery of the plugs through the ports 324 there is provided for each raceway and slot 386 a mechanism including a nger or feeler 390 adjustably mounted at the lowerr end of a lever 392Y pivoted: on the racewayV plate 3,78- at 394 and carrying at its upper end ai block 396vwhich'is constructed for limited lateral movement relative'Y to the forward part of thelever 392-.beingA connected to said forf ward part. by a vertical pivot 398; Extendingv rearwardly from the block* 396 and rigid therewith is a sleeve 400and Within this sleeve is slidably mounteda rod 402 carrying at its rear end across pinx404 slidable in a slot 406m the block. To the rodv at its rearend'is pivoted another block 408haying a gate at its rear end in the form of a plate 410 of a; size to close the corresponding port 324. ,A coiled spring 412 tends constantly to maintain the block 408 at its maximum distance from block 396, the movement of the block 408*A about its pivot being limited by the rflanges 326 at the sides of' ports 324.

Normally the three plug-controlling' devices just described occupy theV positionsfshown in Fig. 9 so that the plugs P may travel freely down the raceways and as any one plug encounters a feeler 390-it passes thereunder tilting the 1ever392 about its pivot and moving the' plate 410 into position toA close the corresponding port 324. However, if the raceway below a particular feelei" has not been lled that feeler will return toits normal position shown in Fig. 9 as soon as the plug has passed. If, however, the raceway below thelfeel-A er has been lled' the next plug will remain beneath the feeler and prevent it and its connected parts from. returning to its normal positiomand therefore, the plate 410-will close the corresponding port and keep it closed until the plug then under the feeler has been permitted, by the downward movement of the preceding plugs, to move further down the raceway after which theV feeler will resume its normal position allowing more plugs topass throughl the port.

The mechanismor transferring the plugs from the position indicated in Fig. l()l to the inserting tools 138 comprises Athree pickers or plungers in the formo rods 420 slotted at their lower ends at 421- (Fig. 1) toclear ribs 388, each rod being out away to form a flat surface, as indicated at 422 (Figs. 9 and ll), and having two spring ngers 424 so niountedon the rod that the area between the lower ends of the fingers and the, surface 422 of each rod is somewhat less than the area of a plug in cross section and the lower ends ofthe fingers are outturned so that, when a rod is moved vertically downkfrom a position immediately above a plug, the lingers yield and the end yof the rod passes over the plug, the fingers retaining the plug clamped againsteach surfacev 422 but thefplugs maybe 'ejected from the picker by an ejector rod 426. The-three rods 420 are adjustably and removably secured to the rear end of a swinging arm 428 (Figs. l, 4 and 5) rigidly 100 secured to a vertical rod 430 supported in the frame for both axial and rotary movement. A spring 431 normally holds this rod and its connectedparts` in a position in which the lower ends of the rods 420 will be at a height above the table somewhat exceeding the height of the plugsP. For depressing the rod: against the resistance of this spring, a collar 432 is secured to the rod and is provided with a groove 434 which receives a pair of studs 436' (Fig. 2) at the forward end of 11()- a. bifurcated lever 438 (Fig. 4) pivoted in thel frame and carrying a cam roll 440 bearing against,

a cam 442 fixed to the cam 288 (Fig. 2). For oscillating the rod 430, an arm 444 is secured at itsl lower end and has secured at its outer end a V vertical pin-446 which has a sliding fit in the outer end of a lever 448 (also Fig. 5) whichat its opposite end carries a cam roll 449 running in a cam groove 450 in cam 288 loose on shaft 228. Lever 448 is pivoted at 451 on a bracket 457 .ses cured to the machiney frame.l Asr shown in Figs. 2 and 5" the walls forming cam groove 286 are so nearly parallelto the walls forming cam groove 450 that groove 45() is formed at the bottom of SIOOVe'ZSBA. e. nearer the axis of cam 288.

The three ejector rods 426 are connected at their upper ends toa horizontal plate 452 (Fig. 4) connectedV bya link 453 pivoted to a block 454 slidable in a slot in the rear end of a lever 455 pivoted at 456 to lugs extending upward from the arm 428. This lever 455 is raised to retract the ejectors 426 by aY rodA 458 pivoted thereto at 460 which in turnis-lifted when the lower end of the rod comes into` contact with the table l2. A coiled tension spring- 462 (Fig. l) tends Vconstantly to move therearv end of lever 455 downwardly but,` When'it has been moved in the opposite direction against the resistance of this spring, it is held so as to leave the ejectors withdrawn, i. e. at their highest position, by latchlever 464 to which is connected a rod 465-with an enlarged lower end 466. A coiled spring 468 tends normally to hold the latch in operativeV position but, when the low'- er endV 466 comesinto contact with the table l2, the latch is released and spring 462 becomes ef-V fective to move the ejectors 426 to their lowermost position.

The camsand the other parts justv described are so constructedand arranged that the pickers 420, through the rotation of rodl 43()A aremoved into 150 a position immediately above the plugs P, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, and then the rod 430 is depressed and the plugs P are clamped, as shown in Fig. 11, after which the pickers are raised and the rod 430 is rotated to carry the pickers and the plugs carried thereby to position immediately over the inserting tools 138. The rod 430 is again depressed to place the plugs close to and axially in alignment with the tools 138, the lower end of rod 458 at that time passing through a clearance hole 470 (Fig. 5) in table 12, and the latch 464 is released so that the ejectors 426 push the plugs out of the pickers and deposit them Within the sleeves 300 and on the inserting tools 138 after which the pickers are again raised and turned to inoperative position ready for a repetition of the series of movements just described.

It will be understood that the mechanism for transferring plugs, just described, is adapted, either with or Without obvious changes in form, for use in transferring other articles.

The manner in which different parts of the machine operate has been explained in connection with the foregoing description of them but the operation of the machine as a whole will now be summarized. When the machine is at rest its parts will occupy the relative positions illustrated in the drawings and more particularly in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. A last L is placed by the operator with its bottom against the horizontal surfaces 27 of the side gages 24 and with the respective side portions of the last against the ends of both pairs of side gages 20, 24 and then the last is pushed inwardly forcing the gages apart against the resistance of springs 36, 54 until the toe portion of the last has been brought firmly into engagement also with both surfaces 16, 18 of the toe gage 14. While the last is thus held by the operator in this position, the treadle 88 is depressed and the movable side gages are thereby rst locked and then, through the continued movement of the treadle, the block 68 is pressed against the upper portion of the toe of the last, the stab point 70 entering the last. Then the operator depresses rod 116 with his hand and the block 112 is locked through pawl 122 in contact with or close to the cone of the last, theoperator sliding the block 112 forward, if necessary, to take up any space between the block and the last.

The last being now rmlyclamped in predetermined position, the motor 178 is started and the clutch 244 is thrown into operation by the hand lever 248 so that the drills 136 are rotated at high speed and the plug assorting and transferringmechanism operates. At this time the carriage 190 is at its extreme position to the right, as shown in Fig. 2, with the drills 136 and the movable bushings 200 in alignment with the stationary bushings 196. Therefore, the cam roll 225 is in operative position in the cam groove 226 of the cam 227, as shown in Fig. 6, and through the action of this cam the movable bushings and the drills rise together into and through the bushings 196 until the bushings 200 come to a stop in a position just below the bottom of the last. Then, because of the yielding connections, including springs 260, pins 262 and slots 266 above described, the drills continue upward and form the holes H to a depth in the bottom of the last predetermined by the adjustment of the sleeves 146 and rod 218. v

Meanwhile, three plugs P have been delivered into the position shown in Fig. 10 and the pickers 420 have each clamped a plug P, as shown in Fig. 11, andthen deposited the plugs within the sleeves 300. Cam 227 causes the drills and movable bushings to descend and the carriage 190 moves to the left, as shown in Fig. 2, bringing the plug-inserting tools 138 and their sleeves 300 into alignment with the bushings 196 and with the holes H already formed in the last. The cam roll 310 being now in operative position in its cam groove 312 in cam 227, the tools 138 and their 'sleeves 300 are raised through the bushings 196 until the sleeves contact with the bottom of the last after which the tools 138 continue to move upward carrying the plugs P into the holes H. After any particular plug has been forced fully to the bottom of its hole the corresponding heavy spring 298 will yield as the cross head 296 completes its movement. Thereafter the cam 227 causes the descent of the tools 138 and sleeves 300 to their lowermost position, the

carriage 190 is shifted to the right and the ma-` chine comes automatically to rest in its initial position.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as .new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for operating upon lasts, the combinationof a plurality of gages to engage the bottom and the side edges of a'last to determine its position in all directions, clamping means for securing the last in the position thus determined, a plurality of drills, power means for rotating the drills and for moving them axially to form holes in the bottom oi the last, a plurality of plug inserting tools, a' hopper, a plurality of raceways and transferring mechanism for picking up plugs delivered by the raceways and depositing them on said tools, power` means for operating said tools to force the plugs into the drilled holes, and automatic means for presenting said drills and said tools alternately in operative relation to the bottom of the last at predetermined times in the cycle of the machine.

2. In a machine for operating upon lasts, the combination of means for supporting and positioning a last in predetermined position with its bottom down and for clamping it in such position, a drill, power means for rotating the drill and `for moving it axially to form a hole in the last bottom, an upwardly movable, plug inserting plunger,'a guide sleeve surrounding the plunger and movable axially relatively thereto, transferring mechanism for picking up a plug and depositing it on the upper end of the plunger and within the sleeve, power means for raising said plunger and said sleeve together until the sleeve engages the bottom of the last and then for continuing the movement of the plunger to force the plug into a drilled hole, and automatic means for presenting said drill. and said plunger alternately in operative relation to the last.

v 3. In a machine for operating upon lasts, the combination of means for positioning a last in predetermined position with its bottom down and clamping it in such position, a drill, power means for rotating the drill and for moving it axially to form ahole in the last bottom, an upwardly j drill foforming a hole in the last, a tool for inserting a plug in a drilled hole, a support for said drill and tool, a single actuator, separate connections between said actuator and the drill and the tool respectively for operating them alternately, and means for relatively moving the support and the actuator to bring them into positions where the drill and the tool are alternately operatively connected to and disconnected from said actuator.

5. In a machine for operating on lasts, the combination of means for supporting a last, a drill, means for operating the drill to form a hole in the last, a tool for inserting a plug in a drilled hole, a support for said drill and tool, a single cam with two cam paths, connections between said two paths and the drill and the tool respectively for operating them alternately, and means for relatively moving the cam and the support to bring them into relative positions where the drill and the tool are alternately operatively connected to said cam.

6. In a machine for operating on lasts, the combination of means for supporting a last, a drill, a plug inserting tool, a cam shaft, a cam immovable axially on the shaft and having cam grooves in its opposite sides, a carriage movable in a line parallel to said shaft and supporting said drill and tool, and means for reciprocating said carriage to bring said drill and tool alternately into operative relation to said cam.

7. In an organized machine, the combination of a rotary cam immovable axially and having cam grooves in its opposite sides, a carriage movable in a line parallel to the axis of said cam, two tools supported by said carriage, two sets of connecting devices between said tools and the respective cam grooves, and means for reciprocating said carriage to bring said two sets of devices alternately into operative relation to the respective cam grooves.

8. In an organized machine, the combination of a cam having a cam path, a tool, a support for said tool operating means for said tool including connections to said cam path, and means for relatively moving the cam and the support to bring them alternately into and out of a position Where the cam is operatively connected to said tool.

9. In a machine for operating on lasts, the combination of gages to determine the position of the last, clamping means for securing the last in the position thus determined including a lastengaging member and a support therefor, and means including a pawl and a ratchet for locking said support in position above the cone of the last, said member being movable relatively to its support to compensate for lost motion between the pawl and the ratchet and thus ensure clamping engagement between said member and the last.

10. In a machine for operating on lasts, the combination of means for positioning and clamping a last, a drill, power means for rotating the drill and for moving it axially to form a hole in the last, and means for adjusting the drill including a threaded sleeve movable axially but not rotatively with the drill, a support for the sleeve and means whereby the sleeve may be adjusted axially in the support.

11. In a machine for operating on lasts, the I.

combination of means for positioning and clamping a last, a drill, power means for rotating the drill and for moving it axially to form a hole in the last, a carriage movable transversely of the last and supporting the drill and a portion of its il said means, said means; including a gear movable with the carriage and a driver mounted independently of the carriage, and connections between the gear and said driver to permit relative 

